Amateur Football Alliance

Southern Amateur League

Chapter Nine - 'The 2000s'
 
Season 2000-01
(Southern Amateur League)

Season 2001-02
(Southern Amateur League)
Fourth XI relegated to Division 2
Sixth XI runners up Sixth Team Section
Eighth XI relegated to Minor Section Division Three

Season 2002-03
(Southern Amateur League)
First XI Champions SAL Division 2
First XI Winners AFA Senior Cup
First XI Finalists AFA Middlesex Senior Cup

The First XI enjoyed what is arguably the best season ever, winning the AFA Senior Cup and the SAL Senior Section Division 2 title and promotion back to the top flight. They were also runners up in the AFA Middlesex Senior Cup. The 5th XI also enjoyed success, winning the SAL Third Team Section convincingly and the AFA Senior Novets Cup. In fact, they only lost one match all season, that being the SAL Senior Novets Cup Final (to Norsemen!). The 3s were also in on the silverware stakes, winning the AFA Junior Cup. The 4th XI bounced back to the top division at the first attempt, being runners up in Division Two, and being runners up in the SAL Cup.

Season 2003-04
(Southern Amateur League)
First XI Winners W.E. Greenland Memorial Trophy
4th XI Winners SAL Cup
5th XI Finalists SAL Cup

The First XI immediately hit the silverware with victory in the Pre-Season W.E. Greenland Memorial Trophy, beating Old Hamptonians 2-1 in the Final, thanks to two goals from Neil Hurst. Cup matches were not to be our forte this season, with an early exit from the Middlesex Senior Cup, 2-3 at Broomfield. Our defence of the AFA Senior Cup took us to the Quarter Final stage when we entertained Nottsborough, going down 1-2.

In the league campaign the Hill were challenging for most of the season but too many matches finished all square and we tailed off. however, a creditable performance in our first season back in the top flight.

The Reserves were unfortunate in that only one team was to be promoted at the end of the season so finishing runners-up to Old Stationers was no consolation. Hopefully it will be our turn next year!

The 3s had a mediocre season, finishing in mid table position. The 4s drew too many matches which spoilt their Championship aspirations, eventually finishing in 3rd place.

With the SAL being regionalised, the 5s found themselves in Division Two North of the Minor Section, playing mainly against other Club's 4th XIs. A very good effort in the first season of regionalised soccer, the side finished runners up, one point behind Alexandra Park 4s. With only the top side from each of the North & South divisions being promoted, we missed out.

The 6s finished 3rd, the 7s 3rd and the 8s 6th.

Season 2004-05
(Southern Amateur League)
First XI Runners up SAL Senior Section Division One
Second XI Champions SAL Intermediate Section Division Two
Third XI Runners up SAL Junior Section
Fifth XI Runners up SAL Minor Section Division Two North
Sixth XI Champions SAL Minor Section Division Four North
Seventh XI Runners up SAL Minor Section Division Five North
Third XI Runners up AFA Junior Cup
Third XI Winners SAL Junior Cup
Fifth XI Winners AFA Senior Novets Cup
Fifth XI Winners SAL Senior Novets Cup

The First XI finished four points behind the Champions, Broomfield. Had we not dropped points against Civil Service and Old Actonians (one point from the four games) we would have undoubtedly won the title! In the AFA Middlesex Cup we enjoyed a run to the semi-final where we met a strong Old Meadonians side who beat us 5-0, although the scoreline was somewhat flattering to them. In the AFA Senior Cup, we were ousted by an Old Grammarians side that we probably should have beaten, but on the day our shooting was off target.

The Reserves got back to the top division, as Champions - thanks to Civil Service losing their last match against Bank of England.  

The 3rd XI reached both Cup Finals, losing one and winning the other, whilst the 5th did one better by winning both of their Finals.

The 6th XI were Champions of their Division, winning the title in February, the first title to be decided in the whole league and the 7th XI finished runners up and were promoted.

Season 2005-06
(Southern Amateur League)
First XI Winners AFA Senior Cup
First XI Winners AFA Greenland Memorial Cup
Fifth XI Champions SAL Minor Section Division Two (North)
Fifth XI Runners Up AFA Minor Cup
Seventh XI Champions SAL Minor Section Division Four (North)
Seventh XI Winners SAL Junior Novets Cup
Ninth XI Champions SAL Minor Section Division Five (North)
Eighth XI Runners up SAL Minor Section Division Five (North) (P)

The season began with the First XI again competing in the Greenland Cup winning all the group matches (Broomfield, Old Owens and Old Foresters) before meeting Old Meadonians in the Final at Polytechnic. A convincing 2 - 0 win saw the first silverware of the season.

The side followed this up with a nine match winning sequence until a 2 - 1 defeat at Nottsborough ended their thirteen match winning streak. During that spell, Hill's keeper Andy Carter kept ten clean sheets.

The side continued good form in all competitions until defeat in the semi final of the AFA Middlesex & Essex Senior Cup against Old Meadonians. This game was spoilt by high winds as the Hill recovered from a 0 - 2 deficit to take the game into extra time during which Old Meadonians netted the winner with a goal fit to win any Cup Tie.

A 4 - 0 win in the semi final of the AFA Senior Cup against Wake Green took the side to the Senior Cup Final for the second time in three years. Playing against a good Old Owens side at Norsemen, the Hill won the game 1 - 0 with Ben Penfold scoring the only goal of the game.

At this stage of the season Nottsborough were top of the SAL, having completed their fixture list. West Wickham were second with two matches to play and Winchmore Hill and Old Owens were third and fourth respectively with five and six matches to go. We had not played Owens in the league and the two matches would probably determine the destination of the Championship.

The first encounter at Old Owens was abandoned. On a wet pitch the scores were level at 1 - 1 when, with 17 minutes of the match remaining, an Owens player badly injured his knee. He could not be removed from the pitch and there was insufficient daylight remaining to complete the match. Needless to say, The Hill would have been well satisfied with a draw!

Season 2006-07
(Southern Amateur League)
Third XI Runners Up SAL Junior Section
Third XI Winners AFA Junior Cup
Third XI Winners SAL Junior Cup
Tenth XI Winners SAL Minor Section Division Five (North)
Veterans XI Winners AFA Open Cup
 

Season 2007-08
(Southern Amateur League)
Sixth XI Winners SAL Intermediate Novets Cup
Eighth XI Winners SAL Junior Novets Cup
Veterans XI Winners AFA Open Cup
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[page updated 2 May 2005]